Fence-wire fastener



(No Model.)

B. S. LENOX, I. H. DANIELS & J. D'. CURTIS. FENCE WIRE FASTBNER.

Patented Jan.13,1885t UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

EDIVIN SEXVALL LEN OX, FRED HARRIS DBQTIELS, AND JOHN DltENN AN CURTIS,OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FENCE-WIRE FASTENEQ.

SPECIE'ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,833, dated January13,1885. Application filed September 19, 1883. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, EDWIN S. LENox, FRED H. DANIELS, and JOHN D.Corners, of WVorcester, in the county of Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMeans for Fastening Fenceires to Posts; and we do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to novel and improved means for fasteningfence-wires to posts, havi ng for its object to secure and protect thewire from oxidation, caused by escaping acid from the wood, shielding itat these points from action of the elements, and guarding or preventingthe rupture of its particles when secured to the post; and to this endit consists in the combination of the wire and post with the improvedi'astening device herein shown, all of which "will be more particularlydescribed hereinafter, and pointed out in the claim, reference being hadto the drawings hereunto annexed.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a section of fence wherein ourimproved fastening means are embodied. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are similarviews of posts, illustrating the different forms of the device asemployed with the various forms of wire used for fencing. Fig. 5 is aplan view of the device itself be fore it has been bent to envelop thewire.

In the erection of wire fences of all kinds many and Varied means havebeen employed for fastening the wire to the posts; and among the mostsimple is the common staple, which, as is well known, has to be drivenin very tightly in order to keep the wire from sagging, and to holditstrongly and firmly enough to, resist being torn off. In practiceithasbeen found that with this mode of fastening the wires very often break,for reasons hereinafter explained, which gives rise to a great loss oftime and labor consequent upon their repair, and especially in longlines of fencing this fault has been found extremely great.

Referring to the parts herein shown, it will be seen that thisdifficulty is obviated by our device, which is very simple andeffective.

A represents a fence-post, and B the wires. 0 illustrates the fasteningmeans proper, and c the staples by which they are held to the posts.This device consists of a single piece of metal stamped out or otherwiseformed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5.

The present method of securing fence-wire to the post by applying thestaple directly to the wire very seriouslyinjures the wire, if thestaple is driven against it with any considerable force, by rupturingits particles, and in a very short while causing it to break and fall.In the use of galvanized wires the acid from the post cats into andfinally weakens them, with the above result. Ourinvention preventsinjury to the wire by the final blow 011 the staple, and by the attackof the acid of the post, and in great part shields thewire from the action of the elements substantially in the following manner: The piece ofmetal is bent, leaving its two ends sufficiently wide apart to enable itto be easily slipped over the wire. The staple is driven into the postover the metal shield, as illustrated, and it will be seen that aportion of the metal is between the bight of the staple and the wire.

(Z d are recesses made in the shield, for preventing endwise movementthereof when the staple is driven into the post, so as to be held withinthem, as shown. These recesses need not be made in the shield, asindentures can be formed therein by driving in the staple very tight,which. will answer almost as well; but for the purpose of thorougheffectiveness we prefer to form them as above explained.

c c are holes, which, when the device is placed on the wire with thespace between the two ends uppermost, as shown in Fig. 4, allow theescape of any water which may enter there in, and thus preserve thewires from decay and rust.

In Fig. 3, where the Hat wire is used, only asingle piece of metal isshown; but it of course may be double.

It has been found by actual observation and experience that when thewire breaks, which is very often, it is almost invariably at some one ofthe points at which it is secured to the post. This, it is thought, iscaused by acid- IOU such as tannic or ligneous acid-escaping from thewood and attacking the steel or other material of which the wire may bemade, with the effect of separating or crumbling its particles, and thuscausing the wire to deteriorate rapidly. To overcome these difficultiesand supply an extremely practicable fastening means are the objects ofour invention.

Nith this description of the invention its novelty and advantages willbe readily apparent. Ve are aware that in this class of inventions it isnot new, broadly, to interpose a washer between the fence wire and post,and also aware that heretofore fastenings have been provided to envelopthe wire; further, that a staple for securing the fastening has beenheretofore employed; but we are not aware of the particular combinationclaimed herein.

Vhat we claim, and desire to secure by Let- 2o ters Patent, is

In fastening devices for fence-wires, the combination, with the wire, ofthe metal guard G, formed with one or more recesses, d, and providedwith openings 0, and a staple for secur 25 EDWIN SEVJALL LENOX. FREDHARRIS DANIELS. JOHN DRENNAN CURTIS.

W'itnesses:

HENRY O. Bron, HENRY F. HILL.

